MEDICATION ERRORS AND PREVENTION
Defining Medication Errors
Overview
Medication errors are preventable events that may lead to inappropriate medication use or patient
harm.
Errors can occur at various stages like prescribing, administration, and monitoring.
Examples include omitting a drug administration right and giving medication based on
incomplete orders.
Impact and Causes
Medication errors are a common cause of morbidity and preventable death in hospitals.
Factors contributing to errors include stressful work conditions and patient/caregiver actions.
Errors can lengthen hospital stays, increase costs, and damage the reputation of healthcare
facilities.
Investigating Errors
All errors, including near-misses, should be investigated to determine causes.
Encouraging a nonpunitive reporting culture is essential to improve patient safety.
Collaboration between government and medical institutions is crucial to remove the culture of
blame.
Patient/Caregiver Factors
Contributing Factors
Taking drugs from multiple practitioners and pharmacies can lead to errors.
Not following prescription instructions, taking leftover medications, or taking drugs meant for
others are common factors.
Patient actions can significantly impact medication errors and patient safety.
Strategies for Reducing Medication Errors
, Assessment
Assessing allergies, health concerns, and current medications is crucial.
Reviewing lab tests, assessing organ functions, and providing patient education are key
strategies.
A thorough assessment helps in preventing medication errors.
Planning and Implementation
Clearing unclear orders, avoiding verbal orders, and following facility protocols are essential
planning steps.
During implementation, focus on the task, practice medication administration rights, and
minimize distractions.
Correctly calculating doses, verifying patient identity, and using proper administration
procedures are critical.
Evaluation
Assessing patients for expected outcomes and adverse effects helps in evaluating medication
effectiveness.
Monitoring patient responses and adjusting treatment plans accordingly is vital.
Evaluation ensures that medication errors are identified and addressed promptly.
Reporting and Documentation
Reporting Errors
Nurses have a legal and ethical duty to report errors.
Incident reports help in identifying error-contributing factors and improving performance.
Sentinel events involving serious harm should always be investigated to prevent recurrence.
Documentation
Documenting errors in patient records and reporting to regulatory bodies is essential.
Proper documentation includes nursing interventions post-error and medication administration
details.
Maintaining accurate records aids in error analysis and quality improvement.
Defining Medication Errors
Overview
Medication errors are preventable events that may lead to inappropriate medication use or patient
harm.
Errors can occur at various stages like prescribing, administration, and monitoring.
Examples include omitting a drug administration right and giving medication based on
incomplete orders.
Impact and Causes
Medication errors are a common cause of morbidity and preventable death in hospitals.
Factors contributing to errors include stressful work conditions and patient/caregiver actions.
Errors can lengthen hospital stays, increase costs, and damage the reputation of healthcare
facilities.
Investigating Errors
All errors, including near-misses, should be investigated to determine causes.
Encouraging a nonpunitive reporting culture is essential to improve patient safety.
Collaboration between government and medical institutions is crucial to remove the culture of
blame.
Patient/Caregiver Factors
Contributing Factors
Taking drugs from multiple practitioners and pharmacies can lead to errors.
Not following prescription instructions, taking leftover medications, or taking drugs meant for
others are common factors.
Patient actions can significantly impact medication errors and patient safety.
Strategies for Reducing Medication Errors
, Assessment
Assessing allergies, health concerns, and current medications is crucial.
Reviewing lab tests, assessing organ functions, and providing patient education are key
strategies.
A thorough assessment helps in preventing medication errors.
Planning and Implementation
Clearing unclear orders, avoiding verbal orders, and following facility protocols are essential
planning steps.
During implementation, focus on the task, practice medication administration rights, and
minimize distractions.
Correctly calculating doses, verifying patient identity, and using proper administration
procedures are critical.
Evaluation
Assessing patients for expected outcomes and adverse effects helps in evaluating medication
effectiveness.
Monitoring patient responses and adjusting treatment plans accordingly is vital.
Evaluation ensures that medication errors are identified and addressed promptly.
Reporting and Documentation
Reporting Errors
Nurses have a legal and ethical duty to report errors.
Incident reports help in identifying error-contributing factors and improving performance.
Sentinel events involving serious harm should always be investigated to prevent recurrence.
Documentation
Documenting errors in patient records and reporting to regulatory bodies is essential.
Proper documentation includes nursing interventions post-error and medication administration
details.
Maintaining accurate records aids in error analysis and quality improvement.
